Window to the World...While you shower?

I grew up in a house that was built in 1959. There is a window in the main bathroom. That window is a glass block window - great for letting in natural light along with a window sill for my mom's African violets. You still had privacy and never gave a thought to adding any kind of window treatment.

Something happened since that time that lead to architects and home builders adding windows, big windows, into bathrooms. Especially over the bathtub. Yes, they brought in wonderful natural light. But they also brought out our sense of modesty. Who wants to shower in front of the neighbor's kitchen window 15 yards away?

I'm not complaining! The home builder's thoughtless design has been a consistent source of revenue for those of us called to treat those windows.

Treatments that can go down from the top as well as up from the bottom are frequently the solution to allow light to come in while keeping privacy. Cellular shades like Duettes from Hunter Douglas, seen in this customer's bath, are a great choice. Roman shades are another treatment that you can add

the top down bottom up function, giving you the "pretty" along with the practicality.

Frequently, builders will use bathrooms to feature a specialty shaped window - throwing yet another monkey wrench into the search for privacy in the most private area of the home.

Once again, this builder chose a huge corner window, topped with arched windows, and placed it right over the bathtub. Here we chose Silhouettes from Hunter Douglas as the solution, giving both beauty and practicality. The sheer of the Silhouettes on the bottom, even as the shade is open, provides some daytime privacy for the owners. They can close the vanes in the evening as they see fit. The specialty arches above can be ordered either in the permanently open or permanently closed position.  This customer wanted the closed position, not only for privacy, but to cut the morning light that streams into the adjacent bedroom.

This window was a particularly tough situation. A powder room that looked out onto the front porch of the home, this window demands privacy. The small, oval shape did not fit into most blind or shade options. And, the customer did not want to spend a small fortune on the smallest room in the home. Budget quickly eliminated the custom shutter option. They also did not want a permanent covering, such as a fabric sunburst, preferring the ability to choose open or close. The solution: continue the wood blinds we had put throughout the home. The integrity of the oval window can still be seen, both inside and out, plus the light can still be controlled!

In the end, there are a number of different solutions to treating that "window to the world" in your bathroom. We can have that natural, flattering light we crave when it comes to putting on makeup in the morning. But, we can also have the privacy we need when we step out of the shower before that!

When Pricey is (K)not a Good Idea

This is the end result of a master bedroom we just completed for a retired couple in Barrington. My photography doesn't do it justice - it's better in person! The wife really wanted green to be her main color in the room, despite the protests of her husband! So to keep them both satisfied, the green could not be too pastel. Nor did they want it too dark. If you've searched for green fabrics recently, you know they currently are not easy to find. Originally, we did find three beautiful choices all within one book. The drapery fabric we chose is Robert Allen Ponderosa Pine/Fountain (and also used in an accent pillow).

Ponderosa Pine/Fountain by Robert Allen

We chose to use the light fabric at the window, over the newly installed wood blinds, to keep the windows light and bright, while using more of the green on the bedspread. More practical, plus more impact visually.

Kilties/Fountain by Robert Allen

Kilties/Fountain is used in two other accent pillows. The customer wanted a throw bedspread, so there were several yards of fabric involved.

Her first choice was:

Knot Along/Dew by Robert Allen

Knot Along/Dew out of the same Robert Allen Color Library book. Beautiful fabric - except for two major challenges - 1. it is 85% linen making it a costly choice and 2. it is 85% linen making it a very wrinkled choice for a bedspread!

I liked the idea of a tack quilting for a fabric of this type, but I needed a more user-friendly and a more budget-friendly choice. 

Using a basic cotton duck from Carole Fabrics (Daydreamer/Chambray) and using a tie tack quilting in a white of the same pattern (Daydreamer/White), we achieved a look that was similar but of a better scale than the original choice. 100% cotton will perform beautifully in both looks and wear and we were able to stay within budget! 

And, both wife AND husband were happy!

"Once You've Gone Custom..."

"You'll never go back."

I heard this declaration many years ago, when I was just starting my interior decorating career. And it's true! After you've seen and felt the real thing, the off the shelf stuff is just a poor imitation.

Why?

Breaking it into 3 main reasons:

1. Choice
There are certainly more options out there with online shopping, but with custom - the world is your oyster! I carry 1000's of fabrics right in my van with access to 1000's more. Any shape, length, width or configuration is yours if it is physically possible!

2. Quality
Double turned hems on a drapery give it weight and substance. Two and one half times fullness minimum gives you a luxurious richness that will cover your window with dramatic folds that play to the light. Ready made drapery won't offer you anything close to that.

3. Finish
With a quality drapery, you always need a quality installation! A professional with the proper tools and a keen eye that can install the rods at the proper height, dress the fabric to make it look camera ready and allow you not to have to break a sweat is worth every penny and more! Your window treatments will be with you for many years to come, why not have them look their best?

I recently completed a job for the front window of a fabulously popular restaurant in downtown Barrington. The interior is cozy and warm, with a bit of a Tuscan flair. The owner had originally installed ready made drapery panels that he purchased as a temporary fix from a popular home furnishings chain. Unfortunately, the rod sagged, the panels dragged, the white lining streetside did nothing to add to the first impression of the eatery and the panels themselves were constantly being pulled and played with by the children of the restaurant patrons.

Looks like their laundry is hanging in the window!

When the restaurant owner called Eddie Z's, we worked with him and determined how to give him a better version of the same look. Chocolate brown velvet, this one from RM Coco, still was a great choice as the drapery fabric, but pleating the drapery allowed us to board mount and secured tiebacks keep busy little hands from undoing the beautiful folds. The custom length sits just above the sill and a chocolate brown drapery lining from Carole Fabrics makes the drapery look as appetizing from the outside as it does inside. All in all, a delicious design!

Nice and subtle - blends right in!

Think about making a design reservation for your custom look - you'll be glad you did!

It's Limbo Time!

So, you've decided to add draperies to your room as the crowning jewel to cap off your beautifully designed living room, dining room or whatever room. You're making a wise move! Not only will they complete the look of your windows, but you will have the added benefit of giving an extra bit of insulation on the outside edges of the window. You'll be stopping that early winter chill from leaking into your room!

The question becomes: how low do you go?

Are your draperies going to traverse? Unless you want them to do dual duty and sweep your floors as well, they will need to hang off of the floor. 1/4" to 1/2" is generally a good length - they will be able to move freely yet still maintain the luxurious, long look.

Are they just side panels? This gives you a few more options. If you have pets, you may still want to hang above the floor for easier cleaning. If not, there are 3 other ways you can go:
 

Brushing - the hem of your drapery just touches the floor. This also has the built-in benefit of keeping your beautifully dressed panels in place.

Breaking - 1" to 2" touching the floor. Think of the way a man's pant hits his shoe.

Puddling - as much as 12" on the floor. This was a popular look in the 90's when "more is more" ruled. Great spot for your kitten or puppy to cuddle up! Also needs to be restyled whenever you vacuum.

Think about how you want the room to feel. There are no real rules other than the more length, the more formal your window will feel. Family room casual or holiday only dining room formal, you won't go wrong by going down to the ground!



There are more than 50 Shades of Grey

I'm looking outside my office window right now and at first glance, I see a very grey and gloomy day. But looking further, I notice how it makes the fall colors just POP! The greens that are still hanging on, the yellows and golds, and the reds and oranges!

Whether the racy book prompted the trend or just that it is time in the cycle, but grey in home decor is everywhere! Whether it's walls or furniture or windows - grey has become the new neutral, (finally!) overtaking the beiges in popularity.

And just like nature, grey can be a backdrop to a bright splash of color in your home.

 

Personal note: this is a treatment I did for a customer about 18 years ago. I recently caught up with her to finish an adjoining room and was thrilled to find this looking great after all this time. Grey is still very much in vogue and looks elegant against a black backdrop with just a punch of red.

 

  Abdendriel/Citrine from Robert Allen

 

Yellow makes a terrific combo with cool greys, warming a color that can be considered cold and unflattering. This is a pairing found in the spring and fall collections of our fabric lines. And you can even update one of those beiged-out rooms by adding grey. The neutral and neutral combination of grey and beige is stylish and sophisticated and a great way to update without starting from scratch!



Look beyond the grey skies and see the color that emerges from that backdrop!

After the Before Before

 

I wish I had the before "before" photos of this contemporary room. Typical suburban two story family room is what I would tell you. But this savvy homeowner brought in some major bling with the floor to ceiling marble fireplace and an incredible chandelier that just dances throughout the room.

But something was still missing! That is where we came in...

 

The first layer we added was privacy - all the glass gave the room a bit of a fishbowl look. We used Hunter Douglas Pirouettes - giving the homeowner complete control over her privacy while also providing excellent light control. Then we played up the height by adding cascades to the centers and panels to the outside of the corner windows. This Fabricut faux silk added a graphic element and a bit more sheen. Depending on how and where you view this fabric, it can pull up grey or gold tones - perfect for the palette of this room!

"Elephant" on the Wall!

Beautiful window treatment, right? Absolutely! Sheers soften the not-so-pretty outside view and the rich, full, fabric panels complement the colors of the room. The simple design takes two oddly placed windows and brings them together as one.

The biggest success, however, revolves around the corner of the room.

Before the draperies, came the speakers! Set low, close to the window and not allowing for much leeway on placement of rods at all, these speakers became a bit of an issue in the design of this room. The customer was adamant about not being able to move the speakers - it would involve rewiring, patching, painting, etc. So, any plan to match the windows on the other side of the room literally flew out the window!

Solution?
Number one - a great installer! I can't say enough about how much an installer with a keen eye and careful tape measure impacts the final success of a tricky drapery treatment.
Number two - working around the elephant (speakers) in the room. We eliminated finials and used simple end caps. Also, we further unified the two windows by using one long pole across the entire expanse. The result is simple, clean and elegant. The speakers stay unobtrusive keeping the great sound in a beautiful space!

When placing items like speakers in a room, give some thought to the overall design of the room, whether completing the plan happens all at once or down the road a few months or years. Likewise, artwork placed too close to a window destined for draperies can also be a challenge. Generally easier to move, but consulting with the window treatment designer before you hang that portrait of Aunt Martha may make the completion of your room design go more smoothly!

By the way, never a good idea to refer to Aunt Martha or even her portrait as an "elephant"! :)

She's Got Legs...

To quote ZZ Top "she knows how to use them". What does this mean when you're talking about window treatments? Most windows end somewhat short of the floor, generally 24" or more. You can treat the window itself with some kind of hard treatment, like a Duette or a Silhouette, and that's great, but stand back and take a look. Why does it feel like something is missing? Because it is like a body cut off at the knees, or worse yet, at the hips! It needs legs!

This was a very formal space with very deep windows. The customer wanted a simple roller shade for privacy. But the room would never have been complete without the addition of the faux silk drapery panels (and the marvelous pagoda style cornices to complete the oriental theme). Not only did the drapery panels add softness to a room with many hard surfaces - think about a typical dining room - lots of wood in there! - but it gave that much needed vertical line to offset the chair rail that cuts the room into two pieces.

As simple as this sheer treatment is, the "legs" that reach to the floor, give weight and more importance to a rather nondescript window in this dining room. Yet, because of the choice of the sheer rather than a heavier, lined drapery, the window still feels light and airy. Simple or ornate, framing your window with drapery panels completes not only the window, but the entire room.

Morale of the story... stretch your "legs" and your windows will be in much better shape!

Baubles, Bangles and Beads, Oh My!

I've been thinking filing a post about baubles, bangles and beads as part of contemporary design for a while now. So when I walked into a customer's home this past week to help her complete her newly redecorated space, I found myself truly inspired!

http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod691015&cm_ps=modal_add_to_cart-_-none-_-other_items_you_may_like&categoryId=cat1701013

This chandelier has such a sense of fun - the ornate, very traditional crystals combined with the contemporary rustic orb - I love it!

Which is my point - you don't need to be Queen Victoria to add a touch of elegance to your decor - it doesn't need to be much - just some trim on a pillow or a lampshade or the bottom of a cornice is all you need to bring some bling to your space! Women accessorize their clothing by adding earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets. They do so much to complete and complement the look. They boost self-esteem because you just know you look great! Think of your decor in the same way. Without the right accessories, the room feels incomplete. Plants, artwork and tablescapes are just the beginning. Take it to another level by layering trim onto your windows.

This is part of the Beaded Accents Collection available through Eddie Z's. Options galore to add a bit of sparkle to your window, pillows or bedding and give it that truly custom look. The cost to add these little extras is not prohibitive and will give your window or the entire room that WOW that catches every guest's eye and the finishing touch that makes you feel fabulous!

Ikat Anyone?

Ikat - you're seeing it everywhere, in women's fashion and home fashion. Where is this trend coming from and what is ikat anyway? Ikat is defined as a dyeing technique used to pattern textiles that employs a resist dyeing process similar to tie-dye (and who among you hasn't tried tie-dying a t-shirt?) on either the warp or weft fibers. We've seen it before - maybe that's why I get the "I feel like I've stepped back into the seventies" reaction from many customers when I present them with an ikat pattern as an option for their room. This trend is a way of reaching back to an earlier, simpler decade, yet giving a nod to the more complex, global culture that is today's world.

The fabric above is Ikat Fret in the Mango colorway from Robert Allen. Besides the striking pattern, it gives us that wonderful punch of the orange that is currently so popular. This fabric would be a pop of color in pillows or a fabulous graphic statement in side panels in a casual room like a family room. We've so "overbrowned" ourselves - from the chocolates, to the taupes to the beiges - that a bit of bright and bold - even in small doses - works to bring a room to life.

Don't be afraid of patterns like ikats - they make a room, and the people in it - feel happy!

Color Mystery Solved!

I went out to a customer's home last week to check out the installation of her blinds and drapery. We had worked on the window treatments before they had even moved in, since it was the parents' home that they inherited and were now rehabbing to make it their own.

It is always a bit of a mystery for me when I work with clients in that fashion. I had not even seen any of their personal belongings, so I rely on reading the personality of the client to make design suggestions. In this particular instance, I found myself working with Beth, who is bubbly, funny and a joy to work with. Her enthusiasm and sense of fun said bright and colorful, yet she was adamant that the drapery be as simple as possible to keep in line with their contemporary style. We chose a patterned white sheer with a narrow chrome rod that repeated itself on either side of the fireplace, on a french door, in a bay and in the adjacent dining room. Simple, yet elegant.

When I walked into the completed home that day, the mystery was totally solved!

The draperies had become the backdrop for a riot of color! All the glass pieces, the artwork on the walls and accessories (note the Tangerine Tango!) were the embodiment of Beth's personality - bold, sunny and happy. The drapery was the antithesis - quiet, yet beautiful. The final result is a home that energizes not only the occupants, but anyone who walks through the door.

Moral of the story? Color in a room should be a reflection of who you are. Whether the color is in your accessories or on your wall, surround yourself in tones that make your place a source of daily inspiration!

Tango Anyone?

Have you ever thought about color? About why you are seeing so much more grey in furniture right now? Or how Avocado Green became the color of choice for refrigerators many years ago? There is a group whose only job is to think about color. They are called the Color Marketing Group (CMG). They are the ones who actually determine what next year's car colors will be or what colors you will be drooling over when you choose those roman shades for your bedroom.

How do they decide what colors you'll be seeing in the next year or two? Where do they get the inspiration to inspire you? It's both simple.... and complex. They take a look at what is going on in the world. One key element they look at are economic conditions - and as a country we seem to be on the upswing - so right now the colors are bright and cheerful. Just the tonic to bring us out of the economic doldrums of the last few years! Pantone, the world-renowned color communication company used by interior, fashion and print and product designers has named Tangerine Tango as the 2012 Color of the Year.  "Tangerine Tango, a spirited reddish orange, continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward." - Pantone.com

An entire room of such a bold statement is probably too much for most people to handle. But, think about Tangerine Tango as an accent! Maybe in a couple of custom pillows against a neutral sofa or on a hotel-inspired neutral bed? This is a tone that would pop with greys, taupes, beiges or creams. If you want to be really daring, pair it with a complementary color - a turquoise - just in small doses - and really make your room sing! 

I'll be exploring more about color in upcoming posts....

Your Room Portfolio

Whenever I design a fabric window treatment for a customer, I try to remember to have a memo sample sent to them. This benefits the customer in a few ways. First of all, this will help them to remember what fabric we chose. After only seeing a fabric for an hour or so, one can quickly forget just how fabulous that pattern was in the room! It adds to the anticipation of the new look we have designed and helps to jog their memory, so they can further plan the room.
Memos are a terrific way to keep a record of your room. Whether you are out shopping for accessories or looking for a new sofa, collecting samples of the pieces of the room in a room portfolio makes for easy shopping. You can use a simple manila folder or upgrade to an accordian folder (four sides, nothing falls out!) to separate by room. Put as many swatches from the room as you can collect - drapery, sofa, chairs, carpet, paint chips and/or wallcovering. If you've got arm covers for a chair or sofa, this is the perfect use for them! Keeping them on the arm causes the fabric to fade unevenly, plus they look awful! Keep them under a cushion or put them in your room portfolio. Use photos for the things you don't have swatches, it's so easy now with camera phones.
I am a great believer in working in the room you are decorating. But that is not always possible when you are buying accessories or upholstered pieces. Taking those few extra steps will save you time and mistakes in the long run.  You may want to take the accordian folder a step further and keep the invoices and care and cleaning guides in there as well. Don't forget a photo of the finished room!
Voila! Everything organized in one spot!

Slider Solutions

You probably have one in your own home.... the ubiquitous sliding door that leads to a balcony or a deck or a patio.  Unless you are in a situation where you don't need privacy or to protect your furnishings from the sun, you probably want to treat it with some kind of window covering. The quick and easy fix was always a vertical blind. And they still are a great solution for that situation - economical, attractive and practical. But if I had a dollar for every time I heard "I hate verticals, what else can I put on my slider?" - well, I would have a lot of dollars!
There are plenty of other solutions available when treating your sliding glass door. First of all, you need to answer a few questions.
What room is it in? If it is in the kitchen, you may be getting a face full of sun at breakfast, or at dinner and want to control your light differently depending on the time of day.
Does it get much use? Are the kids or the dog going in and out several times each day (or hour)?
That is going to lead you to your next question - Vertical or horizontal? In reality, any product can be used to treat a slider, but vertically moving products may be a wiser choice if your door gets used frequently throughout the day.

One of the up and coming products, popularity wise, is a product called panel track. The one pictured here is an Eddie Z's woven wood, that serves two purposes - as a sunscreen and as a decorative complement to the adjacent windows with woven wood roman shades. This family had a wonderful, private backyard so their concern was not privacy. You can also use semi-opaque or opaque fabrics to suit your particular needs. The panels, which you can vary in number or width depending on the width of the window, slide open and stack behind one another allowing easy in and out access. I think this is a great option to a vertical, especially in a more contemporary room. They are moderate in terms of price range so you can get a lot of bang for your buck!
No, vertical blinds are not the only choice out there! When you set up your appointment for the new look on your slider, we can review all your options and choose the right look for your situation!